Sin and Death - Romans 6 - 8

Sin and Death: Spiritual Death defined – Romans 6 – 8

The doctrine of sin is a very commonly misunderstood teaching by a good majority of Christians today, including pastors and teachers. This is simply because of tradtions of men. We believe what we are taught, and many do so without checking into things themselves. Christians will make comments such as, “I am just a saved sinner”, “We all sin every day, even several times per day”, “We cannot help but to sin”, “Even the Apostle Paul had a problem with sin, so what makes us think that we won’t?” and many more. Making Paul into a sinner by using Romans 7 is very common and a complete misunderstanding of the context. We will get to that quickly. But I want to work our way into it by defining sin.

What is sin?

James 4:17 “Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.”

According to this scripture, sin is defined as a willful act of disobedience to a known law of God. Men have come to the knowledge of exactly what is right and wrong in God’s sight through the law. Once law is known, to go against what is known is sin. If a person does not know something is wrong or is ignorant of law, then it is not sin to them at that time. But sinners still plenty have other issues in their lives that are considered sin, since their own conscience reveals such to them. If they go against their conscience, then they do sin – even if they do not know the law.

Romans 2:12-15

12 For as many as have sinned without law will also perish without law, and as many as have sinned in the law will be judged by the law

13 (for not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified;

14 for when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves,

15 who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them)

Someone might think that a man would be better off never hearing any law, and thus being kept from any guilt in breaking it. But since all men have a conscience, none can escape sin, as all have sinned. Although law points out sin to men, it also leads men to righteousness. And now that we have the Holy Spirit within us, we are able to live a life apart from sin, being made free. The same law that exposes sin and condemns men is the same law that leads men to righteousness unto holiness, and to everlasting life.

1 John 5:17 “All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death.”

Christians are quick to make comments like, “sin is sin – whether big or small, it is all the same with God”. This sounds good, but is not completely scriptural. The Bible actually breaks sin down into two different categories, as it also does with works – another commonly misunderstood teaching. According to John there is a sin unto death and a sin not unto death. A sin unto death would be the rebellious disobedience to a known law of God, without any intention of repentance. These are sins that are committed by people who know better but just do not care or they simply attempt to justify them through a faulty logic, and twisting of scripture for their own sake. The sin unto death is not only a rebellious sin, but it is an unrepentant sin in the life of a sinner or backslider. If such a person holds to sin in their life while refusing to repent, then the wages of their sin will be death (Romans 6:23). It is the sin unto death that John says a true Christian will not commit. 1 John 5:18 “We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.” Anyone who commits a sin unto death is not saved from sin, and not born again.

The sin not unto death is something that according to John we will seek to reconcile immediately with God, once they are revealed to us. These are either sins of ignorance or sins of human nature that require spiritual growth or even deliverance. Romans 14:23 says, “…for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.” Anything we do or say that is not of faith is a sin not unto death. By saying all sin is the same and we all sin every day, this opens it open to a wide range of sins, and many people will just claim that their fornication, adultery, drunkenness, homosexuality, or witchcraft is no different than the anger, selfishness, or bad attitudes that even the best of Christians have to battle against. But the true test of a sin not unto death comes when such a sin is revealed. What will you do with it? A true Christian will always deal with such sins by taking it to Christ through confession and in repentance. That is what really makes it a sin not unto death. And because it is not unto death, salvation is never lost every time we sin. Repentance of a sin not unto death is not an act of getting re-saved. It is an act of maintaining salvation as we respond to the conviction of the Holy Spirit.The fact that we are willing to repent and make things right with God, having a desire to please Him, keeps us on the right path in continued faith and salvation in Christ. If we make sin something that we cannot help but to do, and we put sin into a single category, then we not only make a mockery of the scriptures and the power of the gospel to set men free from sin, but we also open the door to a "sinning religion" that refuses to label sin as damnable to the soul of man. Sin is then only an unfortunate sickness that we cannot escape, as we are saved in our sins instead of being saved from them. This teaching does dishonor to the true grace of God that empowers us to keep from habitual sin and to live pure and holy lives.

A popular view of the sin unto death by many today is that it refers to physical death. It is the idea that God may kill or cause the death of a person because of their sin. The same people who teach this idea also believe in the Once Saved, Always Saved doctrine. It is the idea that the physical life is judged by God through death, while the soul is still saved and goes to heaven. So God judges a person for their sin through His wrath, only to send them to heaven by His love. All of this while sinners live like he devil himself and live long full lives without judgment in this life. This makes not sense! It is completely illogical, as well as unbiblical.

The context of 1 John 5 is all about the spiritual life of the Christian, and how we are to live a life apart from sin. Previous to verse 18 above, John is talking about keeping the commandments of God, overcoming the world, and in verse 13 he says he is writing so that they may know they have eternal life. Then he starts to talk about how we can ask God for anything according to His will and He will do it for us. It is after all of this assurance and encouragement concerning the faith and salvation of those he is writing to that John begins to talk about the sin not unto death, and how if a brother sees another sin a sin not unto death, then he can pray and save him from death, gaining life from God. Nowhere in the scriptures are we ever told that we can pray and keep a brother from dying a physical death because he committed a sin not unto death! Or that a brother can die physically because he has committed a sin unto death. A person who sins not unto death is saved through repentance, being kept from spiritual death. We have one example of someone being killed by God in Acts with Ananias and Saphira, who lied to the Holy Spirit. This is not the same thing that John wrote about, and we see no other examples in the scriptures of such an event. Not even with the sins committed by the Corinthian Church. God is not out killing off Christians because they have sinned! Such an idea is absurd. The sin unto death can only refer to a spiritual death – both according to the context and simple logic.

Spiritual Death

Spiritual death is a very commonly misunderstood teaching. Most Churches don’t even realize that they have been infected with either Gnostic or Roman Catholic ideas that lead to other false teachings. How we view spiritual death has a direct affect on how we will view both sin and salvation.

We need to start by properly defining what spiritual death really is. It has been assumed that it refers to the spirit of man being dead and incapable of responding to God in any way at all. But this is a completely false idea and a total impossibility. If the spirit of man were dead, then man himself would be completely dead. James said that the body without the spirit is dead. Not a dead spirit, but a living spirit. Only life can give life! Death does not produce life. So even the most wicked sinner alive today has a living spirit within him that gives life to his being. So since we know that such a sinner is spiritually dead, what does it mean to be spiritually dead?

Death should always be understood as separation. When a person dies and is buried, what is it that happens to them? We know that man was created in God’s likeness. God, being a trinity, exists as three – the father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Man is also made up of three – body, soul and spirit. When a person dies it is only the body that goes into the grave. The body can be cremated, eaten by wild animals, exploded, or ended in a number of other ways. But the spirit and soul do not have an end. Of course even the body will be resurrected one day. But the spirit is said to return to God from where it came. The soul is the part of us that makes up our person. At physical death, it will go to heaven or hell. Some believe it will only sleep until the judgment – which is irrelevant to this study. Either way, the point is that the 3 are separated from each other at death. Death is an end of life. The moment these 3 separate from each other, life is ended, and death comes upon the person. If the 3 exist together in life, then there is no real death. Not until they are separated. So death is defined by separation.

Now, spiritual death is a different thing all together than physical death. Now we are talking about one part of man’s being, and not all three that give physical life. Spiritual death is not about the entire person, but about his spiritual disconnection from God from birth. It is said in Romans 5:12, “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:”

The Common teaching that most teach is that sin was passed down to us all through Adam. But this is only partially true. The scripture actually says it was death that was passed down to us. And then because of death, all have sinned. The problem is not an issue of a dead spirit, but that men do not have God in their lives at all, even from birth. They have no spiritual connection to the only one who can give life to them through a relationship with Him. We have been separated from God from birth because of the sin of Adam and Eve. Jesus came that we may have life, and have it more abundantly (John 10:10). Through His atonement the relationship between God and man has been restored for all who are willing to receive Him. As life is given, death is defeated.

Most people believe that death is the opposite of life; that darkness is the opposite of light; and cold is the opposite of heat. So they assume that some are given life while others are just hopelessly left dead and without any chance at all. But death is not the opposite of life, but rather the absence of it. Darkness is not the opposite of light, but rather the absence of it. And Cold is not the opposite of heat, but the absence of it. People are not lost because they are hopelessly left spiritually dead. They are lost because the light has not been shown in their darkness, and life has not been offered to pull them out of death. And because many refuse life, thinking they have it in this world, through religion, or in themselves, they are only the blind leading the blind as Jesus said. But there is not any true light in their lives. Until they can have enough faith to receive sight, they will never see the light. Their spiritual death is not a death that makes them incapable, but is rather caused by a choice to live separated from God. He gave the gospel and the Holy Spirit to draw men. We have the choice to reject them or respond to them and receive them, in which we become completed in Him - or reconnected to Him. Life comes upon us by our connection to God! Just as spiritual death exists from having no relationship with God.

Romans 7

Before we can understand what is meant in the Apostles writings in chapter 7 to the Romans, it is very important that we keep in context with this letter to this Church so we do not make assumptions that would be contradictory to what he has been teaching. This is the exact error that many make in their interpretation of chapter 7. So lets back up a bit and look at the majority of what is written in chapter 6.

Romans 6:1-7

1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?

2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?

4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:

6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.

So far the Apostle has made it very clear that to die with Christ as every Christian must do is to die to the life of sin. And to rise with Christ is to rise unto newness of life, a life apart from sin. A Christian will no longer serve sin at all. If the old man (nature) is put to death and destroyed, then we are freed from the life of sin. This means that as a true born again Christian, all things are now new, since the old life has passed away (2 Corinth. 5:17). So right off the bat we see that there is no excuse or justification for sin in the Christian life. The true power of grace sets us free from sin. It DOES NOT save us in our sins!

Romans 6:12-18

12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.

13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.

14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.

16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?

17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.

18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.

We have the responsibility given to us here to keep away from sin at all levels. We have to make the decision ourselves to separate ourselves from all sin. Although the power to do so comes through grace, the actual decision is ours. We must not only keep from yielding ourselves unto sin, but we must yield ourselves unto God and righteousness. Whichever one we decide to yield ourselves unto, that is the one we will be servants of. And even for the Christian, sin still leads unto death – as he is writing this to Christians. For those who have been truly save, they have become servants of righteousness. No person can live in sin and be a servant of righteousness at he same time.

Romans 6:19-23

19 …even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.

20 For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.

21 What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.

22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.

23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

The final result of being made free from sin through the yielding of ourselves is “righteousness unto holiness” – unto everlasting life. The Apostles ends this chapter about sin, written to this Church of Christians (Not sinners) by telling them that the wages of sin is death. Wages are something that has to be paid! They are something that is earned. No “payment for sins” deals with them. Although Christ died for our sins on the cross to make provision for forgiveness, confession always has to be made in order for sins to be taken away. The wages of sin is and always will be death. There is nothing stated in the scriptures that changes this fact for Christians. This scripture was placed in this chapter as a warning to Christians and to give the proper understanding of the freedom Christ gives from sin to those in Christ. Not as a bonus, but as an absolute necessity for salvation! The Apostle Paul’s position against sin in the Christian life is clear in this chapter. To say anything different in the following chapter or anywhere else would not only be a contraction, but it would make Paul the greatest of all hypocrites. So with this in mind, lets now look at chapter 7.

Romans 7

In verses 1 through 13 the Apostle is explaining how the law affects man. Without any kind of law there is no knowledge of wrong. So there is no guilt for sin unless it is revealed by either law or conscience. But by the law sin is exposed and reveal, and we are then held responsible and are guilty of breaking the law. So through all these verses the topic is all about law and how sin is connected to it. Law is not the cause of sin, but simply the agent that exposes it. In this chapter, the context is very clear, as it mentions the word "law" 23 times. It is because of the law that Paul said what he said. And it is then that we get into the verses that are so commonly misunderstood and abused.

Romans 7:13-21

14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.

15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.

16 If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.

17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.

18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.

19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.

20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.

21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.

Now, reading these scriptures without considering the context, it could definitely seem that Paul is admitting to a battle with sin. But this completely diminishes the power of freedom from sin previously explained in chapter 6. So we must accept that he was not admitting to a sin problem, but to something else.

First, it is clear that Paul was speaking of the law in the context, and how sin is exposed by it. He is simply explaining how the law affects the human nature in all men. The law is spiritual, containing the truth that can lead a man to righteousness. Although man cannot obtain it on his own, the law is still good and spiritual. But man, in his fallen condition is carnal and sold under sin. He is not saying that this is his present condition when writing this letter! He is comparing the spiritual with the carnality in men, while confessing that he is no different, having lived the carnal life under law and sin. This is a general condition that all men are confronted with when they hear the law. They are immediately confronted with their carnality and error in life. And on their own, they will always fail to do what is right according to the law.

Under the law a man could not keep perfectly from sinning. Man would always fail at some point. Not usually immediately, but certainly eventually. Even though he knew the law and exactly what he needed to do and what he needed to keep from doing, the flesh would at some point gain power over the will and cause man to sin. This is the dilemma of the law. No man could ever keep it perfectly. Paul admits to the same issue in his own life. What throws most people off here is that he seems to be speaking in the present tense about what he is dealing with at the time he wrote this. But this goes against what he said in Chapter 6 and later in chapter 8. So he could not be speaking of this as a present tense battle within himself. He is simply saying that if I am under the law, then “the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do”. But in Christ things are quite different. As he said in chapter 6, “sin shall no longer have dominion over you”.

Then in Romans 8 we read the following:

Romans 8:1-10

1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:

4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.

6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

Paul explains here that the law he just spoke of that kept him bound in a condition of inability to do what was right, and to keep from what was wrong, is now done away with. He now has been made free through Christ. What the law could not do, as he explained in Romans 7, can now been done in Christ. Anyone who is in the flesh (Or under the law alone) as he explained Romans 7 cannot please God! He then says in verse 9 that if the Spirit of God dwells in us, then we ARE NOT in the flesh, but in the Spirit. The Spirit cannot sin! So which is it? As Christians, are we in the flesh or in the Spirit? It is one or the other, not both. When we read Romans 7 in context with Romans 6 & 8, then we can see that Paul was not admitting to a sin problem, but was showing the life of one under law verses one in Christ.

In Romans 7, verse 15 he explains how the carnal mind will not do what is right and will always do what is wrong, even when knowing right and wrong. Then in verse 18 he says he cannot do that which is good. If he were speaking of the present condition by confessing his weaknesses, then he would be contradicting what he said in chapter 6 when he said we must yield ourselves to obey, being servants of righteousness unto holiness. To then turn around and say that the evil he does not want to do he does anyway would be very critical, proving that he is not yielding unto obedience, and is not living a righteous life unto holiness. And according to what he taught in Chapters 6 and 8, to interpret chapter 7 as an admitting of sin in his life would make him into a major hypocrite, which we know he is not. Therefore, any idea that chapter 7 is a confession by Paul of sin in his life must be abandoned and rejected! Chapter 6 is all about the victory in Christ, then Chapter 7 is all about defeat? According how so many interpret this chapter, sin now has dominion over him – and all of us as well. This just does not fit. It can seem to serve as a justification for many who allow sinful habits, attitudes, and lifestyles into their daily living. But it simply IS NOT what Paul was teaching. Like Jesus and the other Apostles, such as John in 1 John, Paul taught freedom in Christ – NOT a bondage to sin while in Christ! Jesus said, “He who the Son sets free is free indeed!” You are either are or you are not free. You cannot be in bondage and free at the same time!

Will a Christian continue to sin after salvation?

This has been an ongoing debate since the first century. With a lot of misunderstandings by some; and some extreme views from others. But when we look at the scriptures, it is critical to knowing truth that we do not ignore what they are really saying. We cannot take a few scriptures that seem to teach one thing, and ignore others that seem to teach the opposite! This will undoubtedly turn into error every time. All these scriptures MUST be used together to find a single truth taught in the scriptures. So, with that in mind, let’s consider a few scriptures that talk about how we as Christians will no longer continue to habitual sin. This is not to say we will never sin. But only that sin no longer controls us. And if we do sin, we will repent and get right with God.

The Epistle of John

Let’s start with 1 John. People love to quote 1 John 1:8, “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us”. First, they assume that this is teaching that we all have sin, all of the time. Secondly, they fail to continue reading on through 1 John.

Let's first look at 1 John 1 in its context:

1 John 1:6-10

6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:

7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

Starting in verse 6 the very first word qualifies us with a condition, using the word "if we". Not "if they", as if he is speaking of someone other than the Christians he is writing to, including himself. But "if we" say we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth. As Christians it is clear here that we can do this. If we walk in darkness, which is to be ruled by sinful behavior, faithlessness, and without love; then we only play the part of a Christian, becoming liars without truth.

He then says in verse 7 that "if" we walk in the light, then we have fellowship with Him, and His blood cleanses us from all sin. This is a simple choice we make to walk in the light of Jesus. It is through this choice that we present ourselves to Him as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto God (Romans 12:1). It is through this act of obedience and confusion of sins that His blood cleanses us of all sin.

In verse 8 he now says the one verse people love to use to defend sinful behavior. "If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us". We just finished reading the previous verses that spoke of the need of being cleansed of our sins. If you are dirty and you take a shower, don't you expect the dirt to be washed away? If we are washed in His blood, sins are also washed away! Jesus is called "the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the World". If sins are washed or taken away, that means we no longer have sin. It does not mean that we will never sin again! This is where people get confused and don't understand the power of God. If we walk in the light, there is no darkness there. The problem arises when we start from the light and return slightly towards darkness, although we don't backslide into darkness and forsake Christ, we do get distracted enough to no longer be walking in the spirit and end up sinning. This is a part of the course of life. But it is not who we are in Christ! Verse 8 is dealing with the condition of men before coming to Christ. If we come to Christ in faith, we must acknowledge that without Him we are sinners who need forgiveness and cleansing. Without that, we cannot be forgiven. So John is assuring the readers of this fact, since there were Gnostic groups teaching that they were not sinners, but that what is called sin is actually natural and acceptable to God. Such people might have a hard time accepting they are sinners because of such false teachings being imparted into their thinking.

Verse 9 tells us that we only need to confess our sins and then He will forgive us. This is the first step towards freedom from sin. He is faithful to cleanse us! And when He cleanses us, He takes it away. This is true freedom that many Christians never fully experience. And for many, they fulfill the scripture in 2 Timothy 3:5 that says many "having a form of godliness, but denying the power of it".

Verse 10 confirms the fact that when we come to Christ we must confess that we are sinners. This is the only way we can be forgiven! But it is not saying that we all remain sinners, and that if we say we are no longer sinners then we are liars and the truth is not in us! Yet this is what so many people are teaching today. They completely turn around the scripture, changing it from teaching the freedom from an old life of sin and darkness, as we enter a new life in light and freedom; to teaching that we are forever bound to sin in this life, and if we say we are not, then we are liars and do not have the truth. What a travesty! A complete denial of the power of true godliness.

As we continue in 1 John, and going into other chapters, we will see how he continues along the line of this same subject of sin. A lot of preachers will preach that we don't need to mention sin any more, because Jesus took care of the sin issue on the cross and defeated it. These preachers not only miss the truth in scripture concerning what was actually accomplished on the cross, but they leave people in their sins and keep them from true freedom. We are not helping anyone by refusing to tell them the truth! We must always have the deepest, utmost love for people. Yet tell them the truth that will set them free! John clearly felt it was important enough of an issue to talk about. So he spent some time talking about sin. Although it is true that Jesus deal with sin on the cross, sin is only defeated for those who put their complete faith in Him and walk in obedience to His commands. The rest of the world is still in their sins. Jesus died for every person in the world for all times. Yet so many die without Him and go to hell, as sin destroys their lives through separation from God in Spiritual death. There is a true power of God that give us a true freedom from sin!

1 John 2:1-2

1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

2 And he is the atoning sacrifice for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.:

Starting off this chapter, John continues talking about his purpose for writing this letter. The purpose being that they will keep from sinning. Lies were being taught all around them about how it is a part of our creation and how God made us to sin and enjoy it. The Gnostic heresies taught that sin is for the body. So believe and trust in Jesus, and live it up in sin however your flesh desires. John was writing to this Church to assure them that these lies are not true, and that they can and must live lives apart from sinning. However, he also wanted to make it clear that "if" we do sin, then Jesus is always present to forgive us any time we are willing to confess our sins in repentance.

He states that Jesus is not only the atoning sacrifice for our sins, but also for the sins of the whole world. Yet the world is still condemned by their sins. I have heard it said so many times that the only sin that keeps us from eternal salvation is the sin of rejecting Jesus. Now of course this sounds really good to people, and even logical. But it really is not scriptural. Because it assumes that we can accept Jesus mentally, remain in our sins, and still be saved. Such an idea goes completely against so many scriptures. But this is popular and ear tickling to many people who will receive it and live it out - as they profess to be Christians. The work of Christ is a provision for forgiveness of sins. It has been provided for all men. And until they receive Him and are cleansed of all their sins and made into new creatures as told in 2 Corinthians 5:17, then they are not saved from their sins.

As we dig a little deeper into 1 John, we start getting to scriptures that make the "sinning Christian" a little uncomfortable. Of course the idea of a "sinning Christian is like the idea of their being a "sober drunk", an "honest liar", a "generous thief", or a "holy demon". It is an oxymoron and cannot work logically or scripturally. Although I recommend reading 1 John in its completion, we will try to stick with the most relevant scriptures. Even though the rest of it completely agrees with what we will cover, as it all confirms the context. But lets see what else John has to say on the issue of sin.

1 John 2

3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.

4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

If we know Him, we will keep His commandments; while if we do not keep His commandments, we do not know Him. By not obeying His commandments, we become lairs without truth! This sounds harsh to many people, to the point that they don't feel they can ever achieve this level of freedom from sin. Such people lean too much on their own abilities and works. Knowing they cannot do it, they find it much easier to just believe that something must be wrong with how this all sounds, There just must be something that makes it appear to sound one way, when it really means something else. A common explanation by those who deny true freedom from sin is that John was referring to Jesus commands about love. If we love, all of the law is fulfilled. This is true! However, what does the law consist of? It consists of commands to honor God and treat others with love and respect, doing no wrong towards them. So even love brings us right back to our actions and the sins that many people commit and try to justify. Their sins hurt and offend God and people! So then, love is not perfected in them. Therefore they still break the greatest commandments to love God and others. The truth of the gospel is in the fact that we do not depend on our own works. But we rather depend on God's working in us and through us. We depend on His love thing through us, as we give our lives to Him and others. When we give our lives in this way, we will not sin. It is never an issue of not ever sinning again! No! It is an issue of true freedom from sin through Christ alone. But John takes it even further as we read on.

1 John 2

28 And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.

29 If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.

Several scriptures tell us of the importance of abiding in Him and in His love. Along with the consequences of not doing so. Here John tells us that if we do not abide in Him, then when He appears we will be ashamed. But we show that we are boron Him because of righteousness in and through our lives, as we live apart from sinning. If we are ashamed, it is because we would not be righteous. And if we are not righteous, it is because we are in our sins. And if in our sins, we will suffer the wages of sin, which is death. This is what the Bible teaches through and through! It isn't popular with a lot of modern teachings that have been affected by Gnostic heretical teachings.

Now we get to the topping of John's message, with some statements that many Christians struggle with. So they try to make it mean something different than what it clearly teaches, or they ignoring it completely.

1 John 3

3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

5 And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.

6 Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.

7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.

8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.

10 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.

There is a lot being mentioned here that makes several things clear.

vs 3. First, it is because of the hope we have in us through Christ that we purify ourselves. Although the ability to purify ourselves comes from God, the choice to purify ourselves is ours to make.

vs 4. Sin is defined as breaking the law of God. It is not every little thing many people try to make it. Although it all matters, sin is still defined as breaking God's commands.

vs 5. Jesus came for the purpose of taking away our sins. This is the work of Christ on the cross! The phrase "take away our sins" refers to the transformation that takes place in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17).

vs 6. Now heres the kicker that gets so many people confused and worked up. [Those who abide in Him do not sin. And if they do sin, then they have not seen Him or known Him.] for those who hold to the idea that we all sin every day in word thought and deed, this is a problem verse. They may try to twist it, turn it, re-apply it, or just flat out ignore it. But it is just too simple and straight forward. Simply put, "We are FREE!" He has taken away our sins! Now to be clear, I believe this is talking about habitual sinning, which is a choice to live in sin. It is not the slip up or the spiritual growth areas of our lives that we will repent of or recommit in. But it is clear by the fact that these things have to be addressed that sin is still an issue even in the Church, and Christians still need to be taught about its power to control and destroy - if they allow it to.

vs 7. Dont ne deceived by anyone who tells you that sin doesn't matter, or that it has lost its power to destroy the Christian! We are not made righteous by the work of Christ while we are sinful! We are made righteous by being empowered by the Holy Spirit to do righteousness - as he who does righteousness is righteous!

vs 8. If we commit sin, it is not a normal part of our lives as Christians that cannot be avoided. No! If we sin (Habitually), then we are of the devil! Jesus was manifest to destroy sin. How does He do that? By making us appear righteous to God? No! That idea is taught in the church today, and it is so false! He destroys the works of the devil by transforming our lives, making us holy, and keeping us from sin as we walk in the Spirit. Sin is still destroying millions of sinners who reject Jesus. It clearly still has its power to destroy. The victory Jesus won over sin in this age is not ending its power. His victory over sin is in our sins being taken away, so we can no longer be judged for sin. We cannot be judged for what is no longer present. The past has been forgiven and forgotten! The future is covered by grace in repentance. We have true freedom from sin and its power by faith in Christ that sets us free from sinning.

vs 9. A Christian does not commit sin. This is another one that throws people off. But it is scripture and it should never be ignored just because it does not fit our doctrinal preferences! Not only does he say a Christian won't sin, it also says a Christian cannot sin! Why not? because His Spirit dwells within us. and we are born of God. We are born again! We have a new life in Christ! And old things have passed away, all things have become new. Yes, we will still have times that we fail to walk in the Spirit daily as we should, and we can sin. But this is not to be what defines us a Christians. We are to live free from sinful living. This is the power of grace and love we have received in Him.

vs 10. The children of God and the children of the devil are both known by the fruit that they bear. True Christians will be known by their righteousness. The unsaved will be known by their sinful living.

Now as harsh as this sounds, and as difficult this can be for many people to understand, it is scripture. And it is not complicated scripture. It does not need re-interpretation to make it fit our own beliefs and teachings. It needs to be understand for what it actually says. Christians need to stop preaching sin supporting doctrines and start preaching the truth about freedom for sin and power over it through the Holy Spirit. We may fall short in areas and have our weaknesses where we need to grow and overcome. But don't ever allow yourself to believe the lies that keep so many people bound up in their sins and separated from God in spiritual death! The first step to freedom in any are of life in in admitting when we have a problem. God wants us to confess our sins and repent. He wants to set us free from all sinning. And although we will never be perfect, or without sin completely, we can certainly be freed from habitual sinning.

Now to reiterate one of the first things we needed to establish is the fact that Paul was not admitting to a sin problem in Romans 7. If he was, then according to John he was a child of the devil. We know this is not true of him. Paul spoke often of the need to overcome sinful living. And so did the other Apostles, which we can read from several other scriptures.

Hebrews 6:1 "Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, f the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. And this will we do, if God permit. For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, if they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame."

This is one of those scriptures that have been debated for centuries. Those who refuse to believe that salvation can be forfeited through sin and rebellion will go to great lengths to explain away the plain teaching given here. The writer starts it off by telling his hearers that in different words that it is time to grow up and move on to maturity (perfection). Why? So they do not have to keep on returning to repentance and renewing their faith again. That means he is telling them that they need to become over-comers and live free from sinning.

It is after this that the writer then gets to the commonly debated verses 4 through 6, saying that it is “impossible” for this particular group of people to be renewed unto repentance if they fall away. The word “impossible” here means “weak or unable”. It refers to the difficulty of doing something, to the point of impossibility, yet not completely impossible. So it is not saying that God will never allow them to get saved again if they fall. What it is saying is that by falling they will have to completely reject all conviction of sin, thus searing their own conscience, becoming unable to repent because they can no longer feel any conviction of sin. So it is unlikely they will ever repent because they no longer have conviction of sin. This is not God’s rejection of them, but rather their rejection of God.

This scripture is speaking of false teachers who have left the true Church and started Gnostic heresies. It is not an example of every Christian that might fall away. Although it does show the absolute possibility of falling away and forfeiting salvation, the “Impossible” part here is towards those who have left the truth to live under false teachings that are no doubt damnable. This is not what happens with every Christian who falls into sin. Although they do forfeit salvation if they return to sin and refuse to repent, they have not gone to the same extreme that they false teachers did.

The common argument against these facts is that these false teachers were never truly saved to begin with. This is a necessary argument for people who simply don’t want to believe the truth. But it is very dishonest of anyone to teach or believe such a things. In this scripture it says that these false teachers were:

“once enlightened”, meaning that they received the mental revelation of who Christ is and they received Him as Lord and savior.
“Tasted of the heavenly gift”. The argument here is that they only “tasted, and did not have the complete experience of salvation. But the reality is, any taste of anything from heaven is enough to transform, any person. Hebrews 2:9 (In the same book of the bible), says that “Jesus tasted death for everyone”. We know that Jesus experienced death to it fullest! So “tasting” death is clearly much more that what they try to make of it. In John 8:52, Jesus said that any man who will keep His saying will NOT taste of death. The eternal death that Jesus saved us from is a very real experience, and not just the little dab we might think of with a taste. It clearly speaks of a complete experience.
“Made partakers of the Holy Ghost”. Being made a partaker of the Holy Ghost is only possible by receiving the Holy Ghost at salvation. Sinners cannot receive the Holy Spirit of God and remain sinner’s. It is having His Spirit that makes us Children of God. It is impossible to be a partake of the Holy Spirit and not be a true Christian.

There is no question about the fact that the clear language of the bible in both Greek and English teach that these people were indeed Christians at one time, and had fallen away and forfeited what they once had in Christ.

2 Peter 2: 20 "For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire."

So here we have Peter telling us that these people he is speaking of (false teachers again), had fully escaped the pollutions (sins) of the world, which is only possible through Christ Jesus and what He did on the cross. This is not a case of people going to Church and changing only on the outside without ever truly getting saved! This is evident first by the fact that they escaped sin through the knowledge of Christ as the sacrifice for our sins through repentance. This is the knowledge spoken of here. And escaping is to escape both sin and judgment through faith.

He says it would have been better for these people to have never "known" the way of righteousness, then to after have come to know it to turn from the Holy Commandment. You cannot "know" all of this without being truly saved. I have never met any sinner who truly understood salvation. The bible says that the things of God are spiritually discerned and the natural man cannot receive such things (1 Corinthians 2:14).

He ends this statement here by saying that to return to sin is like a dog returning to its vomit and a sow to the mire. One popular teacher wrote in his book that God never refers to His people as dogs and pigs, but only to the unsaved with such animal comparisons. And that Jesus referred to His people as Sheep. A lot of people might buy this line just fine. The problem is that Peter was not referring to anyone as an animal. He was only saying :this is what it is like" for a sinner to return to their old ways in sin - after having been made clean and pure. The example is abundantly clear with its comparison of Christians returning to sin, and not at all about sinners who only changed on the outside, without ever being truly saved, returning to their sins.